Multiplex composing-machine.



J. S. BAN'CRFT & M. G. INDAHL.

MULTIPLBX GOMPOSING- MACHINE.

APPLIUATION Hum lov.15,'191o.

989,557. f Patented Apr. 18, 191'1.

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J. s. BANCROPT & M. G. INDAHL. MULTIPLEX- GDMPOSING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov.15. 191'0. 989,557. Patented Apr. 1s, 1911. l 2SHEETS-sum1' 2.

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`TOI-IN SELLERS BANCROFT AND MAURITZ C. INDAHL, 0F PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYL- VANIA, .ASSIGNORS TO LANS'I'ON MONOTYPE MACHINE COMPANY, O F.PHILADEL IPI-IIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OIF VIRGINIA.

MULTIPLEX COMPOSING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that We, JOHN SELLERS BAN- cRor'r and MAURrrz C. INDAHL,citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the countyof Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Multiplex Composing-Machines; and we do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a partof this specification, and to the figures and letters of referencemarked thereon.

This invention relates to multiplex composing machines for theproductionof the perforated record strips or controllers of automatic type castingand composing machines, and has for its principal object to providemeans for coupling up the selecting mechanism with either or bothcomposing units for simultaneous or dissiinultaneous action.

The so-called multiplex composing machine as illustrated for example inPatent No. 925,073, dated June 15, 1909, is equipped With two completecomposing units, a single selecting unit or keyboard, and meanscontrolled` from the selecting unit for temporarily suspending theaction or responsiveness of either composing unit, to the end thatcertain operations, such as justification, etc., may be performed uponone composing unit to the exclusion of its companion unit. For this4purpose each composing unit is provided with a separate lock-outresponsive to a separate member or key of the selecting" mechanism andoperating upon the composing members or punches of its unit to renderthemv v non-responsive to the designating members or keys of theselecting mechanism,

. so that by operating the lock-out key pertaining to one composingunit, the selecting mechanism which normally actuates correspondingcomposing members or punches of both umts is rendered operative upononly one of said units.

Although originally designed for composing the same matter in differentmeasures or fonts, the multiplex composing machine has developed, inpractice, capacities which ren- Thus, by setting or adjusting the twocomposing units for the same or different fonts, sets or measures,either can be controlled sepa- Specificaton of Letters Patent.

Application led. November 15, 1910.

Serial No. 592,485. v

rately or simultaneously from the same selecting unit or keyboard, toproduce multiple copies in the same or different sets or measures, orsingle copies in the set or meas- Iatented Apr. 18p,A 1911.

ure to which either of the composing units is at the time adjusted; andit is to facilitate such extended use and at the same time preserve itsinitial capacity that the present improvement has been devised andapplied, t-he same being shown as embodied in a valve structure which inone position preserves the multiplex functions; -in a second positionplaces the selecting unit in exclusive control of one composing unit;andl in a third position places said selecting unit in exclusive controlof the other composing unit.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred form of embodimentFigure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a multiplex machine with thetransposing member or valve applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a front elevationof the transposing valve; Fig. 3 is-a vertical section through thevalve; Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line -m and, Fig. 5 is asimilar section on the line y--y when theV valve is set for multiplexcomposition, Fig. 2. Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views lon lines xandg/-y respectively with the valve in extreme 'right position. Figs. 8 and9 are similar sections showing the valve in extreme left position.

Corresponding letters and numerals desigu nate like parts in the severalfigures.

For purposes of illustration the invention is shown applied to themachine of Patent No. 925,073, although equally applicable to otherconstructions, and, in practice, usually employed in connection withmachines containing selecting and composing'units patterned after thoseof' Patent No. 944,405 of December 28, 1909.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, B, BX represent the twoV composingunits; the selecting unit 19, 19x the lock-outs for the' respectivecomposing units; 14, 14X the lockout valves; 21 21X the conduits leadingfrom the lock-out valves to their respective lockouts and settingmotors; 16 the conduits leading from the members or keys ofl theselecting unitsto corresponding performing members or cylinders ofthetwo com osing units; and 6, 6x the setting motors or the justificationindicating devices of the two units, the setting motor 6 ertainng tounit B 4being connected to con uit 21 controlled by 'valve 14 and thesetting motor 6" pertaining to unit B" being connected to conduit 21"controlled by valve 14".

Reference is had to Patent No. 925,078 for the details of constructionand mode of operation. It will suffice for present purposes to observethat the selecting unit is provided with a series of keys 15 eachcontrolling the inflow of air under pressure to one or more conduits 16,which latter are each connected through branches with correspondingperforming .members or pistons of the two cornposing units B B". Valve14" controls the admission of pressure to lock-out 19 of unit B and tothe setting motor 6" of unit 13";

- of action.

Duri. Ag multiplex composition both valves l 14", remain .closed and the.keys of the s ecti ,units simultaneously operate correspon ingperforming members of both composing' units; when, however, a charactesris 'to be inserted at one composing unit to the .exclusion of. theother, or separate justification is required valve 14 or 14" controllingthe lockout of the excluded compeeing unit is displaced .and so heldwhile the key or keys of the selecting unit designating the exclusivematter is or are o rated. This inherent .capacity of .the mac `ine toproduce either multiple or distinctive individu-al composition can befully vavailed of only :at the eipense of speed and accuracy, owing .tothe. iscriminator actions devolving upon .the operator an, tending totract attent-ion :from copy .andto multiply opportunity for error; and-it is the purpose o the present invention to reduce these obF staclesto the minimum, both in number and degree, by providing means wherebythe transposition from multiple to either of two tive indY-:dlllempositions, and Versa', prfornd man1 I l u tt e., sietl mig @0mm amthi-cir mspvet'lve controlling vn u 'lation of a member controllineennections between the lock-.outs an ves, as will presently appear.

In present instance, wherein the motive power for .the lockfonts andsetting .motorsfis Acompr assed air and the controlling means thereforvalves governing the admission of the motor fluid, the transposing element takes the for-m of a valve mechanism A interposed in andcontrolling the lines of communication between valves 14 and 14" andtheir respective lock-outs 19, 19" and sett-ing motors 6, 6" (it beingunderstood of course, that if other motive power, such, for example aselectricity, is employed, the valve lwill be replaced by its recognizedequivalent,

to wit, a properly constructed switch.) The arrangement is such thatwhen the valve or switching member is in one posit-ion the connectionswill be set for multiplex action; when set in another position separateaction of the ri ht composing unit will be indicated, an when set in thethird position,

separate actionof the left composing unit` will be indicated. The valvecasing is provided with a cylindrical and, preferably, conical seat 1,containing five ports 2, 3, 3', 4 and 4. Port 2 communicates through aconduit 5 with a consta-nt air pressure supply chamber; of the two ports3, 3', one is connected with valve 14 and sett-ing motor` 6, and theother to lock-out 19"; and of the two ports 4, 4', one is connected tovalve 14" and setting motor 6" and the other to lockout 19.

Located within the valve casing is a cylindrical and, preferably,conical valve 7 provided with two circumferential grooves or bridgingpassages '8, 8", each lying in the plane of one set of ports 3, 3', .and4, 4', red spectively, and two supply ports or radial passages, 9, 9",the one in line with passage 8 and the other in 'line with passage 8".Both ports 9, 9", connect with a passage 10 the latter in opencommunication with port 2 through pressure chamber 2O. Valve 7 is held`to its seat b. a spring' 11 interposed between the end oV the valve anda removable cap 12, and is provided at its llower end with a detachablehandle and 'index 13.

The members of the valve mechanism are so constructed, arranged andproportioned' that when handle 13 is turned to one of its indexedpositions (preferably the cent-ral of three stations) communication will'be estab.- lished and maintained between ports 3, 8", through bridgingpassage 8 and 'between ports 4, 4', through 'bridging assage 8". In thisosition the conditions o vthe prior patente multiplex machine arepreserved in their entirety, inasmuch as valve 14 is in direct and opencommunication with lock-out 19" and setting motor 6 and valve 14" withlock-out 19 and setting motor 6";

If handle 13 iS-turned to the right extreme position, Figs. 6 and 7, itwill close the valve port 3, and establish .communication betweenpressure chamber 20 and lockout port 3', at the same time retaining thevalve and lockout ports 4, 4', in open communication. The effect will beto admit pressure to iockoutv 19", thereby cutting out or preventing theright hand composing unit BX from responding to selecting unit C, at thesaine time maintaining open communication between ports 4, 4. As aresult of these changes in the connections composing unit B is placedunder the direct and exclusive control of selecting unit C with itssetting motor 6 in responsive relation to valve 14.

By turning handle 13 to the left or third indexed position, Figs. 8- and9, the control is reversed, that is to say, port 4 is closed, port 4connected with pressure chamber 20, and the passage between ports 8 and3 opened, whereby the lock-out 19 is energized to arrest the action ofcomposing unit B, and the setting motor 6X of composing unit BX isretained under the control of its valve 14X so that composition can beperformed upon the right hand unit BX to the exclusion of unit B.

It will be noted that when valve 7 is set to admit pressure from chamber20 to the lock-out of either composing unit, to render the other unitindependently operative, communication is maintained between the lockoutof the operative composing unit and its controlling valve 14 or 14",thereby retaining said lockout in open communication with the exhaust ofits valve 14 or 14". This is to prevent the trapping of air in thelockout of the operative composing unit and the delays occasionedthereby, when a shift is made from one composing unit to the other, thatis to say, when pressure is shifted from one lock out to the other.

Conveniently, the shifting valve mechanism is constructed in the form ofa selfcontained attachment, and is detachably secured to the front ofthe selecting unit frame in position to be readily accessible to theoperator at the keyboard, and the only change or alteration necessary toapply the same to lexisting multiplex machines is the severing of theconduits leading to the lockouts and the connection of the severed endsto the appropriate ports of the valve casing ,and the addition of aconduit connecting port 2 with the pressure chamber of the keyboard. l

lVhat we claim is 1. A multiplex composing machine provided with aplurality of composing units each including a lock-out and settingmotor, and a selecting unit controlling the several composing units andprovided with a plurality of lock-out valves, one for each composingunit and controlling the lock-out thereof together with the settingmotor of the companion composing unit, and in combination therewith avalve mechanism controlling the lines of communication between thelock-outs, setting motors, control valves, and a pressure chamber, sothat when the mechanism is in either of two positions of adjustmentpressure will be admitted to the lock-out of either composing unit andcoinmunication opened between the setting motor of the companion unitand one of the lock-out controlling valves, and when said mechanism isset in a third position pressure will be cut oft' from both lock-outsand communication opened between each lock-out valve and the lock-out ofone and the setting motor of the other composing units.

2. In a multiple composing machine, provided with two composing unitseach equipped with a lock-out and a setting motor, a selecting unitcommon to the two composing units, and individual control members forthe two setting motors, and in combination therewith, separate lines ofcommunication between each of said control members and the lock-out ofone and the setting motor of the other composing units including a threeposition switching mechanism or member controlling said lines ofcommunication and operating to couple each individual control member'with the lock-out of one and the setting motor of the other composingmember, and for coupling the lock-out member of either composing unitwith a constant source of pressure and' the setting motor of the otherunit with one of the individual control members.

3. In a multiple composing machine provided with two composing unitsceach equipped with a lock-out and a setting motor, and a selecting unitcommon to the two composing units and provided with individualcontrolling valves for separate lines of communication between each ofsaid valves and the lock-out of one and setting motor of the othercomposing unit, the combination with said controlling valves, lockoutsand setting motors, of a three-position valve mechanism controlling saidindividual lines of communication for selectively coupling each of theaforesaid controlling valves with the lock-out of one and the settingmotor of the other composing unit for connecting the lock-out of theprimary composing unit with a constant source of pressure and thesetting motor of the secondary composing unit with one of thecontrolling valves, and connecting the lock-out of the secondarycomposing unit with a source of pressure and the setting motor ofv theprimary composing unit witlr the other of said controlling valves.

4. In a multiple composing machine equipped with two composing .unitseach provided with a lock-out and a setting motor, and a selecting vunitcommon to said composing units and provided with individual controlvalves and separate lines of communication between each of the latterand the lock-out of one and the setting motor of the other, thecombination with said valves, lock-outs, and setting motors, of athree-position valve controlling the aforesaid lines of communicationthe same including vtwo sets of ports whereof one member of each setcommunicates with one of said control valves and the other with one of.the lock-outs, and a valve member in co` operative relation with saidports and provided with a connecting passage and associated pressuresupply passage for each set of valve and lock-out ports, said ports andpassages being arranged and operating substantially as described and forthe purpose set forth.

5. In a multiplex composing machine, provided with a selecting unit, andduplicate composing units, each equipped with a lockout, a settingmotor, and a control valve for the setting motor, and in combinationtherewith connections intermediate the control valve of each composingunit and the lockout of the other composing unit, and a switching Valvemechanism, the latter controlling the connections between the controlvalves and associated lock-outs, said switching valve including a casingprovided with a valve seat containing two sets of ports whereof onemember of each set is in open communication with a control Valve and theother with the associated lock-out, a three positioned valve providedwith two sets of ports or passages each set comprising a bridging memberand a pressure supply member arranged in tandem in the direction ofmotion of the valve and cooperating with one of the aforesaid sets ofports in the casing, and means for shifting said valve in oppositedirections from an intermediate position, the arrangement being suchthat when the valve is in the intermediate position each lock-out is inopen communication with its control valve, and when said valve is movedto either extreme position pressure will be admitted to thecorresponding lockout and at the same time the connection with itscontrolling valve will be closed.

6. In a multiplex composing machine, such as described and incombination with the lock-outs and control valves pertaining to the twocomposing units, a shifting device or mechanism the same comprising `avalve casing provided with two sets of ports whereof one member of eachset is connected to the lock-out and the .other to the control valve ofone composing unit and the other set connected in like manner to thelock-out and valve of the associated composing unit; a valve rotatablymounted in said casing and providedwith two sets of ports or passageseach set in the plane of one of the first mentioned sets of ports andone adapted to bridge the associated lockout and valve ports and theother to admit pressure to the lock-out port, said pressure portscommunicating with a passage in the valve and the latter opening into apressure chamber in the casing.

7. A shift valve for multiplex composing machine such as described, thesame including the following elements to wit; a chamfered casingprovided with a conical valve seat containing two sets of ports; aconical valve provided with two sets of ports or passages each set inline with one set of ports in the casing, one member of each set ofvalve ports ybeing adapted to bridge the corresponding casing ports andthe other to register with one of said casing ports, and a passageopening through the head of the valve and communicating with the twonon-bridging valve ports; a cap closing the end of the chamber in thevalve casing; a spring interposed between said cap and the end of thevalve, a supply passage communicating with the chamber at the end ofthevalve; Vand indexed actuating devices connected with the valve toposition the latter.

8. In a multiplex composing machine equipped with two composing unitseach provided with lock-out and setting devices,

a selecting unit common to the two composing units, and a plurality oflock-out and setting device control members, and in combinationtherewith, means for coupling individual control members with thelock-out devices of one and the setting devices of the associatedcomposing unit, and for coupling one of said control members with thesetting devices of one composing unit and actuating the lockout devicesof the associated composing unit.

JOHN SELLERS BANCROFT. MAURITZ C. INDAHL. Witnesses:

MORTIMER A. JONES, FRED WEINDEL, J r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

